John a



(No Model.)

J. A. CABLE.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATINGGOLD.

Nd. 274,083. Patented Man-13,1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. CABLE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

.. APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,083, dated March 13, 1883.

Application filed October 14, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. CABLE, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Separating Gold," of 'which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this@ specification, which is a vertical section of the apparatus.

My invention consists in the mechanical construction of the device shown, which will be fully described and claimed hereinafter.

Referring to thedrawing, A represents a crucible or other suitable vessel for holding the liquid, and is so supported that a fire can be placed beneath it to keep the lead in a molten condition.

In the bottom of the vessel is a copper plate, B, with which the negative wire 0 of a battery connects. Stepped into this plate is the lower end of a screw-conveyer, D, the POliqljli of bearing being insulated, as shown at Surrounding the conveyer is a tube, F, open at the lower end, and having a hopper, G, on its upper end, and is supported by a suitable frame, H. The conveyer-shaft has adrivingpulley, I, and its upper end is journaled in a box, J, secured to the frame H.

K represents a copper plate supported by the tube F, by means of a collar, L, secured to the tube, or by other suitable means. The point of contact of the plate and tube is insulated, asat M. The positive wire N of the battery connects with this plate K, as shown.

0 represents arms or rakes secured by their inner ends to a ring or hub, P, journaled upon and supported by a collar, Q, secured to the tube F. The lower end of the collar Q is turned outward, forming a flange, R, upon which the hub P rests and has its support.

The office of these arms is to rake the. base thereto andengaged by a similar wheel, T, on

a drive-shaft, U, to which suitable power is i applied.

The operation is as follows: Power being applied to the conveyor, the pulverized material is *placed in the hopper and carried by the conveyer tothe bottom of the vessel, where it escapes into the melted lead, and the refuse matter, being lighter than the lead, will ascend therein, carrying more or less gold with it. The electric circuit is now connected, which will cause currents to pass from the positive to the negative plate through the lead bath, as shown by the arrows, which will assist the bath of lead to precipitate the gold, that is rising with the refuse matter, upon the lower plate, to which it will adhere, and thus be saved. The refuse matter, continuing to rise, will pass between the upper plate and the walls of the vessel, and be raked by the arms 0 to the spout of the vessel, where it will be discharged.

As a substitute for melted lead I may employ a bath of mercury; but as mercury cannot be heated advantageously I prefer the melted lead.

I am aware that electrical appliances have been used in connection with an amalgamating-chamber containing mercury, so as to obtain the solidificationof or prevent the disintegration of the mercury. Such, therefore, I

ing of vessel A, to contain melted lead, copper plate B at bottom, wire 0, connected to negative pole,tube F, copper plate K, wire N, connected to positive pole, collar L, insulator M, between collar and plate K, conveyer-shaft D, within the tube, insulator E, beneath and secured in the plate B, huh I, having scrapers O, collar Q R for supporting the hub, bevelgears S T, drive-shaft U, and pulley I for driving couveyer, the whole mouutedin a suitable frame, as set forth.

' JOHN A. CABLE.

, Witnesses:

SAML. KNIGHT, GEo. H. KNIGHT. 

